On dimly remembered books from childhood...
Did anyone read a book when they were a kid that had two teenagers running through a forest, touching a piece of ball lightning and being transported to Ancient Rome? I remember one bit distinctly - the two boys being surprised when they realise they're in Rome because where they come from it's called "Reme" after the brother Remus rather than Romulus. I'm only asking because I stumbled upon a post on Fiona's site which suggested using Amazon to find the name of dimly-remembered books. Only I can't find it. If no one has any idea, could you someone please pop into Wroxham library and see if it's still in the kids book section after twenty years. Thanks!
Comments
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Terry Pratchett's Strata.
→ Posted by: Andy Baio at November 15, 2003 12:09 AM
On second thought, probably not. Terry Pratchett was one of several authors to use the Rome/Reme gimmick to define differences between parallel worlds.
→ Posted by: Andy Baio at November 15, 2003 12:19 AM
It very definitely wasn't a Terry Pratchett book.
→ Posted by: Tom Coates at November 15, 2003 12:26 AM
You're probably thinking of Fireball, by John Christopher. I may still have a copy on my bookshelf. I remember reading all of his books that I could get my hands on, after seeing a bit on The White Mountains on tv.
→ Posted by: SobaFett at November 15, 2003 9:45 PM
I can't help you with the title but I think there was a sequel where they explore America after starting a revolution by the Christian church in Europe in the first book. It's all to do with them introducing longbows I seem to remember.
The sequal has them escaping from Vikings into the hands of the Aztecs I think.
→ Posted by: Mark Wilkin at November 16, 2003 1:59 PM
I don't think this is the one you're thinking of but... a couple of days ago I was reading 'The Secret School' by Whitley Strieber. Fireballs or ball-lighting crop up a lot, and being transported to Ancient Rome... but it just happens to one boy.
→ Posted by: Rollo at November 17, 2003 7:45 PM
FWIW, I think it *is* fireball...I remember reading it. There's a bit, IIRC, where somebody asks one of the boys if he is (what he interprets as) a "foggy tea wash", that is a fugitivus or escaped slave.
→ Posted by: Dan at November 27, 2003 1:00 AM